UNC Children’s Hospital marked a significant milestone in pediatric heart care with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, May 18, 2026, celebrating the opening of its new Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU).
The new standalone, 13-bed unit is designed to care for infants, children, and adolescents with complex congenital and acquired heart conditions. Located on the UNC Medical Campus in Chapel Hill, the PCICU provides specialized postoperative recovery, cardiac ECMO support, and other life-saving interventions for some of our most medically fragile patients. Pediatric cardiac intensive care units are highly specialized environments that bring together multidisciplinary teams and advanced technology to improve outcomes for children with serious heart conditions.
The development of the PCICU was guided by a need for localized, highly specialized pediatric cardiovascular care. As part of this effort, UNC expanded its existing critical care footprint to create a distinct environment for cardiac patients, separate from the general Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. This dedicated space supports a focused, interdisciplinary approach tailored to the unique needs of pediatric heart patients and their families.
Planning for the PCICU was closely aligned with broader investments across UNC Children’s, including enhancements to the Newborn Critical Care Center, as well as renovations to cardiac catheterization labs and pediatric operating rooms. Together, these efforts strengthen the overall capacity for complex cardiac procedures and integrated care.
A key component of the unit’s launch has been the intentional development of a dedicated subspecialty care team. UNC Health has recruited highly trained clinicians, expanded onboarding pathways for new graduates, and integrated child life specialists directly into the unit to support patients and families throughout their care experience.
Leaders from UNC Health and the Department of Pediatrics participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiled a commemorative plaque recognizing the opening of the new unit.
Those in attendance included:
Rowell Daniels, PharmD, MS, FASHP, Chief Operating Officer, UNC Hospitals
Jacci Harden Jacobs, DHA, MBA, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, UNC Hospitals
Melanie Dawes, MHA, MBA, RN, NE-BC, Health Care System VP of Children’s Service Line Administration and Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Stacie Bonin, MSN, RN, CPN, Associate Director for UNC Children’s
Danielle Stolfi, MSN, RN, CCRN, Program Manager of UNC Health’s Children’s Heart Center
Eve Hammett, RN, Director of Children’s Inpatient Services
Matthew Pizzuto, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Interim Division Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Stephanie D. Davis, MD, Edward C. Curnen, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics
Jenny Boyd, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and UNC Hospitals Chief Medical Officer
Ashley Sutton, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Inpatient Medical Director, UNC Children’s
The new PCICU is designed to provide a collaborative environment where multidisciplinary teams deliver around-the-clock care using advanced therapies and monitoring technologies. Specialized cardiac intensive care units are associated with improved outcomes for children with serious heart conditions due to focused expertise and coordinated care delivery.
This opening reflects UNC Children’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to specialized pediatric services for families across North Carolina and the Southeast.
